#001 – What is a Scarcity Complex?

#001 – Welcome to the Scarcity Complex Podcast! Host J. Wurster introduces the topic of scarcity as he explores some of the ways in which we often hold ourselves back. Have you ever wanted to express more of who you are, but are afraid? All of us have this inner critic that is constantly chattering telling us all the ways we might not be safe or fail. And we’re often told that it’s a sign of weakness to be afraid when just the opposite is true. Join us on this opening podcast as we kick off the adventure together.

Show Summary

What is Scarcity?

I wanted to create a conversation around this idea of scarcity. I call it my scarcity complex. Others might call it a scarcity mindset. Imposter Syndrome. It’s basically this inner critic that we have inside of us that tells us deep down that we’re not enough. It fuels the idea that either we’re not enough or there won’t be enough of anything out in this world.

This lack and limitation that we feel inwardly, convinces us that we need something outside of ourselves to make us happy, to make ourselves feel complete. Scarcity ultimately tells us that we are not worthy of love and that we are not worthy of good things. If we get too excited about something, we just have to wait for the other shoe to drop. Because that’s how life works, right?

As we look around today, our external world is so much a reflection of the internal world of what’s going on within us. Scarcity and fear are everywhere, as it’s part of the human experience. Yet it’s something we rarely talk about.

The Inner Critic

Do we come into this world this way? Theologians, philosophers, and psychologists have debated that for centuries asking the question, “Where did humanity go wrong?” Instead of getting into all of the different theories as to how it got there, we’re going to focus more on why it might be there in the first place.

It’s ultimately there to protect us. The fear mechanism in our brain that’s triggered in the amygdala is a really helpful response when we are literally in danger. If we’re about to get hit by a bus, that’s an awesome use of fear.

The problem is that it doesn’t usually stop just there. We often times tend to spend a lot of time regretting things from the past or worrying about things in the future. This often times leads to us translating those things into the present moment. Ultimately, all of this goes back to wanting to know that we are going to be okay.

Scarcity Is A Lens

Scarcity is ultimately an illusion. It is a lens by which we see the world that literally alters our view of reality. Anything that we look through to the outside world or by which we see ourselves is ultimately going to affect the perception of how we receive back what we’re looking at.

What’s tricky about scarcity is that it will often times convince us that some of the things that are in greatest supply in the universe are actually limited or lacking. Yet it will then convince us that some of the very things that are truly scarce, there is an abundance of, and we can just squander and throw away.

What Is It Trying to Protect?

There is obviously something in us, a deeper, truer, sense of self that wants to know that it’s going to be okay. It wants to know it’s safe to be vulnerable or who we really are. And the scarcity complex is trying to protect our most open-hearted sense of self from getting hurt. If you have walked on this planet, you have been hurt.

Think about a time in your life when your heart was broken over something or someone. What was one of your initial reactions after it happened? It initially probably didn’t feel too good. So the scarcity complex comes in and says, “Well, you got your heart broken? I’m never, ever, ever going to let you get your heart broken again. And you know how I’m going to keep you from getting your heart broken again? By keeping your heart closed.”

As long as you keep your heart closed, you’ll never get hurt again. That’s the thinking at least. But there is, of course, a trade-off in it. If you agree to never opening your heart again, you’re also going to cut yourself off from love. So that’s what’s tricky about scarcity is that on the one hand it’s there to protect us from these “unpleasant” emotions or places where we might get hurt, but in the process it also keeps us from living with an open heart to all of these other amazing things.

There is an infinite supply of love, joy, and abundance. Yet often times to receive those things, it requires being staying open. There is of course wisdom in who you share the most vulnerable parts of yourself with. Yet if you’re choosing to remain in isolation and all alone, then you’re also not opening your heart to all of the beautiful things that are wanting and waiting to come in.

Living Life With No Regrets

All of us are truly here for such a short time on this planet. This is why living with the reality that we aren’t here forever, can actually propel us into our deeper place in life. Where hopefully we all could look back at the end with as few regrets as possible.

We all have unspoken things in us that were meant to expressed. Every human wants to be seen, but the risk of doing so often feels far too great. Doing that can feel like the scariest yet greatest thing all at the same time.

Yet that’s the beauty of being alive and human. We get to be all of these things. Our limitations are often the result of our past experiences and conditioning, that keep us closed off far more than we often know. And this leads to us living life in a box, which is what we will talk about a whole lot more in Episode 2.